Mavericks-Hornets Preview
The Charlotte Hornets were in the Southeast Division's cellar less than two
months ago. They have a chance to take over first place this week.
夏洛特黃蜂一個多月前還在東區東南組墊底，如今他們有機會在本周搶下
分組龍頭的位置。
The Hornets can secure their longest win streak in 16 seasons when they face
the slumping Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
黃蜂希望拿到隊史近16年來最長的八連勝，對手是近況低迷的達拉斯小牛。
Charlotte was 19-23 and 6 1/2 games back in the Southeast on Jan. 20
following its 15th loss in 20 contests. The Hornets have won 18 of 23 since
and earned a seventh consecutive victory Saturday, 125-109 over Houston.
1月20日時，黃蜂還以19勝23敗在東南組落後龍頭6場半，那時他們吞下近
20場比賽中的第15敗，不過之後他們在23場比賽中贏了18場，包括昨天以
125-109在主場擊敗休士頓火箭，拿下七連勝。
Kemba Walker shined once again in his team's eighth straight home win with 26
points on 11-of-16 shooting, and Marvin Williams added 25. Walker is
averaging 28.6 points and 52.9 percent shooting during the win streak, going
25 of 51 from 3-point range.
Kemba Walker再度拿下好表現，全場投16中11拿到26分，帶領黃蜂拿到主
場八連勝，Marvin Williams也攻得25分，在這波連勝當中，Walker平均
攻下28.6分，命中率52.9%，三分球投51中25。
"We're just trying to approach every game the same. We just want to win,"
Walker said. "I'm excited. We're playing well. We're playing our best right
now, but I think we still have room for improvement. We have got to keep it
rolling."
Walker說："我們只是試著每場比賽都全力求勝，我很興奮，球隊近況很
好，大家都打出最高的水準，但我覺得我們還有進步的空間，希望球隊能
繼續連勝下去。"
Charlotte is looking for its longest win streak since Dec. 3-18, 1999, and a
ninth victory in a row at home would match the third-longest in franchise
history.
黃蜂希望拿下自從1999年12月以來最長的連勝紀錄，若能拿下主場九連勝
也將是隊史第三高。
Extending those streaks might also allow the Hornets (37-28) to overtake
Miami in the division.
37勝28敗的黃蜂如果能繼續贏下去，將威脅邁阿密熱火的分組龍頭寶座。
Charlotte is a half-game behind the Heat, who play Denver on Monday night.
The Hornets will try to do their part to erase the last remnant of that
deficit by sending Dallas (33-33) to a sixth consecutive loss.
黃蜂目前只落後熱火半場，明天熱火將對上丹佛金塊，在跨越這半場的差
距同時，他們有機會讓33勝33敗的小牛吞下六連敗。
The Mavericks dropped to .500 for the first time since Nov. 11 with a 112-105
defeat to visiting Indiana on Saturday, their 14th consecutive game of
allowing at least 101 points. Dirk Nowitzki helped keep his team competitive
by scoring 15 of his 30 in the final quarter.
小牛自從11月初以來首次勝率跌至五成，昨天他們以105-112在主場敗給
印第安那溜馬，這是他們連續第14場比賽失分至少101分，Dirk Nowitzki
力挽狂瀾，在第四節拿下全場30分當中的15分，仍無力回天。
"We're a .500 team. We deserve to be a .500 team and we're at that
crossroads," guard Wesley Matthews said. "Where do we want to go? What do we
want to do about it?"
Wesley Matthews說："我們跌到了五成勝率，我們最近的表現的確只有
這樣的水準，而且正在沉淪，我們的目標是什麼？我們又該做些什麼？"
Dallas is in a virtual tie with Houston for the Western Conference's final
playoff spot. The defensively challenged Mavericks will face a team that's
averaged 118.0 points in its last seven games while shooting 43.1 percent
from 3-point range.
小牛目前與火箭並列西區第七跟第八，小牛的防守是一大罩門，最近七
場比賽對手的平均得分是118.0分，三分球命中率43.1%。
"It's just a lot of little things, and it's tiny things, at this point, that
we've got to do better. We're close, but we're just not good enough right
now. We've just got to better," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're playing good
teams. Indiana is a good team. Charlotte is going to be the same kind of
team."
小牛教練Rick Carlisle說："很多小細節沒做好，我們得更努力，我們
距離勝利很近，但我們就是打得不夠好來贏得比賽。我們的對手實力不
錯，溜馬是支強隊，黃蜂也不是好惹的。"
The Hornets went 6 of 27 from beyond the arc against Dallas on Nov. 5, but
shot 49.4 percent overall in a 108-94 victory. Al Jefferson led the way with
a season-high 31 points on 15 of 18 from the field.
在11月5日作客達拉斯的比賽中，黃蜂的外線投27中6，不過整體命中率
有49.4%，最後以108-94取勝，Al Jefferson投18中15拿到本季最高的31
分。
Nowitzki was limited to 14 points and shot 4 of 12, and he's averaged 12.8
points in his last four games against Charlotte. However, he's scored 26.8
points and hit 57.1 percent in his past four overall.
Dirk那場比賽投12僅中4得到14分，他最近四次對上黃蜂平均只有12.8分，
不過他在本季最近四場比賽平均能攻下26.8分，命中率57.1%。
The Mavericks have lost four of five on the road and gone to overtime in each
of their last three such games. No team has played to an extra period in four
consecutive road contests since at least 1951-52.
小牛最近在五場客場比賽當中輸了四場，而且連續三場客場都打到延長賽，
而自1951-52球季之後，就沒有球隊連續四場客場以上都打延長賽。
沒什麼好說的...快止敗吧Q____Q
Let's Go Mavs!!